This month I am posting a recipe for vegetable broth with soda bread. Both of these dishes can be made in less than an hour and freeze well. The bread doesn’t need strong flours or yeast and can be made by hand then baked immediately.
Soda Bread
250g plain white flour
250g wholemeal flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
450g buttermilk (or natural yoghurt)
Soup
150g white onions
500g peeled vegetables
(I use carrots, swede, celery, potatoes & parsnip)
1ltr liquid
(meat/veg stock or water with a tsp of marmite to make veg stock)
Chopped dry or fresh herbs to taste
Salt & pepper
Method:
Place the flours into a bowl with the salt and bicarbonate of soda. Mix together with a spoon. Add ¾ of the buttermilk/yoghurt and mix with the spoon gradually adding the remainder until a dough is formed. Place onto the table and knead lightly to form a ball. Place onto a lined baking sheet then press into a round flat shape about 25cm across. Dust with flour then cut into 4 pieces. Bake immediately at 200°c for approximately 30 minutes until the base sounds hollow when tapped. For the soup, cut all the vegetables into cubes and place into a large pot. Add the liquid then bring to the boil simmer for 30-40 minutes or until the vegetables are tender add salt and pepper to taste then add the herbs.
Serve with the bread and butter.
